William Hughes to Arthur Hughes. When WH was a boy there were three mine workings: Penygwaith or The Old Mines was on the top; Gwaith Newydd was on the Conway side; and Gwaith Ty Gwyn was along Church Walks on the site now occupied by the Old Turkish Baths and AH's Uncle Arthur's house. Talks about the flooding of the Ty Gwyn: a level was built from the entrance to the Pavilion Walk, with the intention of drying the rock, but this was unsuccessful with the sea remaining the master. WH had to take his father's dinner to this tunnel.
Then responds to some of AH's queries regarding people: one of the miners at the time of the boring of the tunnel was Samuel Jones of 12 Madoc Street, who WH believes was a Llandudno man. He was father to Mrs Daniel Edwards. His father was John Jones, a preacher who WH describes as 'such a shouter'. Samuel was also very eloquent, but not a preacher. AH's great grandfather, Joseph Hughes, was one of the greatest pioneers in making Llandudno. The late 'Gwalchmai' was a newcomer who WH remembers coming to take charge of the Independents' Church.
Talks about Roman finds from Yr Hen Waith. WH recalls hearing the miners talking about encountering Roman works discovered as they were 'cutting levels deep in the bowels of the mountain'.
Refers to the practice at that time for wages to be paid in public houses: WH used to go to the Prince of Wales for his, which was situated close to the shore then. He remembers the Conway Road being built, which previously was along the shore to Nant y Gamar and to Llanrhos, or along to Cerrig Duon past Castell and Ffridd Gerrig to Deganwy. The first Post Office was in Greenhill, opposite the Miner's Arms, Trwyn Wylfa. WH remembers taking letters 'and instead of the stamp we paid coin and was dear and uncertain'. There were no policemen then, only sworn Constables, and WH's father had been one of these, although WH never recalls his being called 'to watch'.
Refers to swampy fields at Ffordd y Gamar and to the Ffos Fawr that his father had helped build. This was semi-circular in shape and started opposite Wellington House and went round in Canol Gwyn field to the acra under the Conway Road to the clay put where the brick works used to be. The acrau used to be common grazing land and were shared out amongst the different farmers.
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